Following a meeting in London yesterday, the English Premier League is considering plans to extend the season to 39 games by staging some matches abroad.
These extra games would be played at different venues across the globe, with cities bidding for the right to stage them. Several destinations - US, south-east Asia and Dubai - could be interested in staging Premier League games, such is the demand for English football around the planet.
The points won in these one-off games would count towards teams' end-of-season totals, meaning they could be the difference between winning and losing the title and staying up or suffering relegation. It is understood the additional fixtures could be determined by a draw but that the top-five teams could be seeded to avoid playing each other.
Sorry, but this is money-induced lunacy. If it took off, how soon would it be before these "one-off" games became two? Then three? These matches would be soulless, bastardized mutations of a traditional sport once created for the masses, but now catering more and more for the "prawn sandwich brigade". And don't think this would be confined to the Premiership. Will Serie A and La Liga stand idly by while the cash rolls in for the EPL, if these overseas matches prove successful?
This is "fantasy football" of the worst kind possible.
Top clubs consider overseas games
The Football Supporters' Federation - NO TO GAM£ 39 - Supporters' Petition
No comments:
Post a Comment